Top 6 longest unbeaten runs in football history

• Bayer Leverkusen have been impressive since the start of the 2023-24 campaign and have so far not lost a single match
• The longest unbeaten runs in football are held by clubs that are not well known
• Steaua Bucharest, a Romanian football club went 104 games without defeat in the late 80s

Several clubs have gone without losing a match for years, but which teams ranks top on the list of longest unbeaten runs in football.

Bayer Leverkusen have been impressive since the start of the 2023-24 campaign and have so far not lost a single match. They are the only club in Europe’s top five leagues yet to lose a match and are favourites to win the Bundesliga title this season.

With everyone talking about Leverkusen’s performance under manager Xabi Alonso, we have decided to bring the top five clubs with longest unbeaten run in football history. Below are the teams that maintained an unblemished record in their respective leagues for years:

1. Steaua Bucharest – 104 Games 

On top of the list of clubs with the longest unbeaten runs in football history is Steaua Bucharest. Now known to many as FCSB, this Romanian club went 104 games without defeat in the late 80s. They were force to be reckoned with back then and clinched 5 titles back-to-back alongside other domestic trophies.

Steaua Bucharest went unbeaten in 104 league matches from 1986 to 1989. Photo/ BeSoccer.

Even though FCSB are not very famous, they have an interesting history as they have played the final of the Intercontinental Cup, the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

2. Lincoln Red Imps – 88 Games 

Lincoln Red Imps is a professional football club based in Gibraltar and play in the Gibraltar National League. While the club isn’t well known, it ranks among clubs with the longest unbeaten runs in football history. Lincoln Reds went five years without tasting defeat from May 2009 to September 2014. Their astonishing 1,959-day streak completed with them winning the Gibraltar Premier Division 14 times in a row.

3. Al Ahly – 71 Games

Egyptian club Al Ahly went unbeaten in 71 matches from 2004 to 2007. Photo/ YouTube.

Al Ahly of Egypt do not only rank among the most successful clubs in the world but also appear on the list of clubs with longest unbeaten runs in football history. Their impressive 71-game run without defeat was spread across three different years. The Egyptian giants didn’t taste defeat from 2004 up to 2007.

If you thought that Al Ahly are a dominant force only in Egypt then you’re wrong because they have won 8 CAF Champions League titles and the FIFA Club World Cup (2006).

4. Sheriff Tiraspol – 63 Games

Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol is one of those clubs on this list that are not well known. Based in Tiraspol, a city located in the Transnistria, the club plays in the Moldovan Super Liga. It was founded in 1997 and won their first trophy during the 1998-99 season.

During the early 2000s, no team in Moldova would stop Sheriff Tiraspol and they won 63 games undefeated. After going unbeaten during the 2006-07 season, their amazing run was halted in 2008 by Zimbru. Nevertheless, they boast winning ten consecutive league title between 2000 and 2010.

5. Celtic – 62 Games 

Celtic have been a powerhouse in Scottish football for many years. From 1897 to 1940 they were led by William Patrick Maley, popularly known as Willie Maley, to winning 30 major trophies. Well, that’s quite remarkable as few clubs can boast such an achievement. From 1915 to 1917 they won four consecutive league titles, managing an astonishing 62 games unbeaten.

Celtic FC are a dominant force in Scottish football. Photo/ Celtic Football Club.

It was at Celtic where Kenyan talented midfielder Victor Wanyama introduced himself to the football world by scoring that header against a strong Barcelona side in the UEFA Champions League.

6. Levadia – 61 Games 

Football Club Infonet Levadia Tallinn, popularly known as Levadia, is an Estonian club based in Tallinn and competes in the Meistriliiga, which is the top flight of Estonian football.

Under the guidance of Igor Prins Levadia went an impressive 61 games undefeated between 2008 and 2009. Their first defeat of the season came in the second last game of the season, which means they narrowly missed out on ending that campaign undefeated. The club that defeated them hence stopping their outstanding run was Trans Narva.